I WAS flabbergasted at Environment Minister Dick
Roche’s assertion that Indaver’s incinerators are passing
through “one of the most open and rigorous physical planning
and environmental licensing regimes in the world” (January 5).

Mr Roche obviously came nowhere near the licence
or planning application oral hearings for the Ringaskiddy proposals.

The sound basis on which the whole process rests
must be site selection. The WHO has issued guidelines for the safe
siting of incinerators. The Ringaskiddy site fails on the criteria
set down including, for example, weather conditions that allow the
pollutants to linger, flooding and proximity to the new maritime college.

Notwithstanding the poor site selection, the
planning process continued. Following a three-week hearing the report
of inspector Philip Jones roundly criticised the quality of the planning
application, and recommended refusal on 14 planning grounds.

Next came the inquiry into the draft licence
that had been issued by the EPA. The health effects of incinerator
emissions were the main concern of the hearing.

A Dutch paediatrician, Dr Gavin ten Tusscher,
told the hearing that even at current licensed levels, the children
in his hospital were suffering health damage as a result of incinerator
emissions.

An Irish medical scientist and Government adviser,
Dr Anthony Staines, warned of our inadequate infrastructure to safeguard
public health. Unfortunately, an EPA employee, with a doctorate in
geology, dismissed these submissions.

As for the openness of the Irish planning system,
none of the decision-making panel of either the EPA or An Bórd
Pleanála came to Cork to answer the questions of community
groups.

It is now clear to the people of Cork harbour
area that the only logical explanation given for granting permissions
for these incinerators is that it is “in line with Government
policy.”

If that is so, how it affects our lives, our
health and our environment does not matter a fig.